ABSTRACT
Introduction
: Natural hallucinogenic substances seem to be one of the addict agents most commonly used in
European countries. The important source of those psychodysleptics may be a spreading growth of Psilocybe genus mushrooms.

Material and Methods:

To verify a previously published hypothesis on cardiotoxicity of hallucinogens, the ex perimental study in the form of a three-month test on male Wistar rats was performed. The study groups received intraperitoneally psilocin (PSI) in a dose of 10 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) or beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) in a dose of 1 mg/kg b.w. dissolved in 5% ethanol every second day for 2 and 12 weeks. The control groups received 5% ethanol or 0.9% solution of NaCl for the same time periods. At the end of the experiment, biochemical blood parameters, ECG, and myocardial energetic status were examined, as well as histopathological and electron-microscopic examinations were performed. The decreased serum magnesium concentrations in the PSI-exposed animals were noted.

Results:

The obtained results showed that the repeated (12 weeks) administration of PSI produces in rats ECG
abnormalities in the form of tachycardia, myocardial ischaemia and aberrant intraventricular conduction. It was
also stated that long-term exposure to PSI and PEA exerts a crucial effect on the energy heart muscle metabolism, which has been reflected in the complex changes in the myocardial profile of purine concentrations. These
abnormalities corresponded with degenerative changes in cardiomyocyte mitochondria observed on histopathological and electron microscopy examinations.

Conclusions: The results of the study indicated a cardiotoxic effect of psilocin, manifested by functional and structural changes in cardiomyocytes and coronary arteries

Hmmm...this is concerning. The fact that they refer to mushrooms as an addict agent (I'm assuming that's a typo or shorthand for 'addictive agent'?) leaves me somewhat skeptical though.

Definitely intriguing and worth looking into; I'd be curious to know who funded these studies.

Unfortunately nothing is perfect...I would not be surprised if there were some kind of catch-22 even with something as seemingly safe as mushrooms.

Thanks for sharing!

The LD50 of psilocybin/psilocin is beyond any aspect to relative toxicity..however, I do see toxic effects occurring if certain fungus is used for prolonged periods of time, continually. Probably very low to none at all albeit!

Also, these studies were conducted with intraperitoneally injection.. leaving absorption to be quite rapid, ergo, rapid negative effects over the 12-week evaluation. Oral routes of psilocybin are much, much safer.

These abnormalities corresponded with degenerative changes in cardiomyocyte mitochondria observed on histopathological and electron microscopy examinations.

I cannot say for sure..however, as stated above, the (possible) damage comes from breakdown of mitochondria leading to insufficient functioning. If it's concerning you, I'd advise increasing your mitochondria energy with a supplement. This one I use(below). I'm no professional medical doctor, but I'd be interested to see if PQQ were to alleviate any of the appearing symptoms of (if any) psilocin toxicity.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrroloquinoline_quinone

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=pyrroloquinoline+quinone

'In one case reported in Poland in 1998, an 18-year-old man developed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, arrhythmia, and suffered myocardial infarction after ingesting P. semilanceata frequently over the period of a month. The cardiac damage and myocardial infarction was suggested to be a result of either coronary vasoconstriction, or because of platelet hyperaggregation and occlusion of small coronary arteries'

The cardiac complications of recreational drug use

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih....pmc/articles/PMC1071198/

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”)

Pharmacology

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and psilocybin are commonly used hallucinogenic agents that are structurally related and have similar physiologic, pharmacologic, and clinical effects. LSD is about 100 times more potent than psilocybin. Their mechanisms of action are complex with various agonist, partial agonist, and antagonist effects at serotonergic, dopaminergic, and adrenergic receptors.2

Clinical effects

The adrenergic effects of these drugs are usually mild and can give rise to general sympathetic arousal leading to dilated pupils, tachycardia, hypertension, and hyperreflexia. Although cardiovascular complications are rarely serious, supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and myocardial infarction have been reported.5 Changes in serotonin-induced platelet aggregation and sympathetically induced arterial vasospasm may have been contributory factors leading to the onset of myocardial infarction.5

5-HT2B agonism is what really concerns me, not the adrenergic effects.

Blessings
~ND

As will be described in the next section, medications that are known to induce VHD such as fenfluramine, methysergide, ergotamine, pergolide and cabergoline share a common mechanism - namely, these drugs or their major metabolites are potent and efficacious 5-HT2B agonists.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih....pmc/articles/PMC2695569/

If mushrooms were cardiotoxic you'd expect it to be much better and wider documented.

The study groups received intraperitoneally psilocin (PSI) in a dose of 10 μg/kg body weight (b.w.) or beta-phenylethylamine (PEA) in a dose of 1 mg/kg b.w. dissolved in 5% ethanol every second day for 2 and 12 weeks.